China will promote the development of multi-mode transportation and improve and adjust transportation mix, according to a circular issued by the General Office of the State Council on Jan 7.

The move, outlined in a work plan for 2021 to 2025, will help increase higher efficiency, lower logistics costs, conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions, the circular said.

With marked improvements by 2025, multi-mode transportation should feature a pattern where railway and waterway dominate middle- and long-distance transportation of bulk commodities and containers. Specifically, nationwide freight via railway and waterway should by then increase by about 10 percent and 12 percent, respectively, from the base of 2020, with the annual growth rate exceeding 15 percent for container transportation combining the two modes.

To boost the capacity and connectivity in integrated transportation, key transport corridors and freight hubs should catch up, along with upgraded technologies and equipment, the circular said.

Its innovative development requires offering a wider variety of specialized services and products, such as cold-chain logistics and green delivery, as well as aligning service rules across different modes, with a focus on rail-sea transport, and creating a sound system for goods transfer, safety management and payment rules.

The plan urges efforts to foster a unified and open market environment, deepen reforms in railway and other key sectors, and regulate fee charging in important transportation links.